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Acer FA100 vs Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink: Comparison
Acer FA100 vs Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink sequential read compared
Start with sequential read, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Acer FA100 3300 MB/s against Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 7450 MB/s, 56% in favour of Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink. Speed Score backs the spec sheet up. Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink scores 8.4 to 6.4, 24% clear. Sequential write runs the same way, 2700 MB/s on the Acer FA100 versus 6900 MB/s on the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink, another win for Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink.
Which should you buy, Acer FA100 or Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink?
Buy the Acer FA100 for everyday storage use where 3300 MB/s reads are fast enough. The same goes for budget laptop or desktop upgrades wanting 2000 GB on a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot. It is not the one for buyers wanting PCIe 4.0 performance, as this drive is limited to 3300 MB/s reads. Take the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink for PS5 owners installing into the console's M.2 expansion slot. Sony's specific thermal and height requirements make this heatsink SKU the right buy. It also earns its place with motherboard builds without integrated M.2 cooling that want a properly fitted, factory-tested solution. Avoid it for buyers whose motherboard already includes its own M.2 heatsink. The base Samsung 990 PRO, covered elsewhere on this site, saves money in that case. Our rating of the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink (9/10): the right SKU to buy for PS5 installs or boards without integrated M.2 cooling; identical performance to the bare drive.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Acer FA100 and Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink differ on bus interface?
Yes. Bus Interface reads PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Acer FA100 versus PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe on the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink.
Is the NAND Type the same on the Acer FA100 and Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink?
It is. Both are listed at TLC, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Acer FA100
- 6.4/10-24%
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- 8.4/10Best
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Acer FA100
- Acer
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- Samsung
Model Number
- Acer FA100
- Acer FA100 (Micron B47R)
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- 990 PRO with Heatsink
Series
- Acer FA100
- FA100
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- Samsung 990 PRO
Bus Interface
- Acer FA100
- PCIe 3.0 x4
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
Sequential Read
- Acer FA100
- 3300 MB/s-56%
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- 7450 MB/s
Sequential Write
- Acer FA100
- 2700 MB/s-61%
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- 6900 MB/s
DRAM Cache
- Acer FA100
- DRAM-less (HMB)
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- DRAM
NAND Type
- Acer FA100
- TLC
- Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
- TLC
Which one should you pick?
Choose Acer FA100 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink if you want the higher speed score (8.4 vs 6.4), the higher sequential read (7450 MB/s vs 3300 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (6900 MB/s vs 2700 MB/s).
Verdict
Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The right SKU to buy for PS5 installs or boards without integrated M.2 cooling; identical performance to the bare drive.